Burial-case



f i Unitas STATES PATENT @rricia.

WILLIAM o. ARMSTRONG, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

BURlAL-QASE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No, 307,253, dated October 28, 1884.

Application filed May 19, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. ARM- STRONG, of Springfield, county of Clark, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Burial-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to burial-oases; and my object has been to produce a burial-case or portable vault which cannot be opened after being once closed, and, being made of strong material, will be burglar-proof. I attain this object by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the top part of the case; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the bottom part thereof, and Fig. 3 both parts put together. These sections are taken on a line passing along the spring-catches show a strong sheet of metal, forming the straight top and sides of the burial-case, hav ing rounded corners along the upper edges, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The ends of the top part are closed by the sheets B, firmly fastened to the sheet A and the corner-strip G by suitable rivets, R. A part of these rivets only include the corner-strip O, as shown in Fig. 1; another part only the sheet A, as shown in Fig. 3. These rivets also hold the separate inside sheet or strap, D, which may be broad enough to carry both arrow-bolts L, as shown in Fig. 4, or which may be in two separate pieces, one for each arrow-bolt, as shown in Fig. 5. These sheets or straps D are bent over at the lower end, forming ears or flanges E, having square holes, in which are fastened by a nut the arrow-bolts L,whose parts, passing through the ear E, are square or otherwise suitably shaped to prevent the bolts L from turning when inserted therein. The bottom part is shaped similar to the top, being formed of a main sheet, G, forming its sides and bottom, the ends being closed up by the end sheets 1?, suitably riveted thereto. These end sheets are bent over at the top, forming a (No model.)

derneath, the springs S Sby means of suitable blocks or fasteningsm a. (Best shown in Figs. 2 and 9.) These springs S S are simple flat pieces of steel or othersuitable metal, running nearly parallel to each other, (being, perhaps, a little more widely separated at the top edges.) On closing the burial-case the arrow-bolts L first pass through the holes I in the flange H, then by their wedge-like points force apart the two blades S S of the springs, and when entirely closed the springs will close up again over the barbs of the arrow-point, preventing the top part from being lifted or forced'up again.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4,, and 5, it will be noticed that the arrow-bolts are not all in the same position. The left part of Figs. 1 andS, and also Fig. 4, shows these bolts in the position needed to be ready for permanent closure of the case, whereas the right side of Figs. 1and8,and also Fig. 5,shows the samein position for shipment,allowing the two parts of the case to be lifted apart,which maybe effect ed by givingthose bolts L a quarterturn when fastening them in the flange E, or, as shown only in the right side of Fig. 5, by entirely reversing the bolt, point upward. Finally, K K represent hooks or catches fastened to sheet A of the top part, intended to reach over the upper long edges of the lower part, as shown in Fig. 3, thus giving the lower part of sheet A an additional stiffening against being pried apart from the sides of the bottom part. M M show suitable handles, placed at the most convenient places. It will be seen, of course, that the springs S S might be placed as well above the flange H as below it; also, that the part H, instead of being a part of the end sheets 1?, might be attached as a separate piece, leaving this to the option of the manufacturer. But one great point of this burialcase is that neither the fastenings of the ar row-bolts and springs (whether they be screws or rivets) nor the locking apparatus itself can be reached or destroyed byblows or other vio lence from the outside in any position.

I am aware that prior to my invention burialcases have been made with Spring-catches. E, attached to the end sheets 13, and spring- Therefore I do not claim burial-cases having catches fastened, respectively, to the parts H spring-catches, broadly; but and D E, substantially as and for the purpose What I do claim, and intend to secure by shown and set forth. 5 Letters Patent, is as follows: In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 1 5 The combination, in a metallic burial-case, my hand this 16th day of May, 1884. of the outside casing composed of the top and \VILLIAM G. ARMSTRONG. bottom parts, A and G, and end sheets, B and \Vitnesses: P, respectively, inside perforated flanges H, LEWIS WINDHURST,

10 attached to the end sheets P, bent plates D JOHN J. HoPPEs. 

